BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Oct. 28, 2023) - After surrendering numerous late goals of their own this season, Georgian Court was finally on the positive side of those final minutes goals. The Lions scored not once, but twice in the final 10 minutes, and hit the game-winner with just 23 seconds to play as they improbably stole a 2-1 win from Bridgeport. The win puts GCU at 5-7-3- this season and evens their record at 4-4-2 in the CACC. 

How it Happened
• The overall numbers were nearly an even split. Both teams had 11 shots, five on goal.
• Bridgeport led 7-5 in corner kicks, all coming in the first half.
• The match featured seven yellow cards, four on Bridgeport and three on Georgian Court, the final one for excessive celebration after the game-winning goal. 
• Common fouls saw the Purple Knights whistled for 12 and the Lions nine.
• It was a tale of two halves for the Lions. They started out slow as the field seemed tilted in Bridgeport's favor.
• In the first 15 minutes Bridgeport got off two shots, one on net and earned six corner kicks.
• Georgian Court was struggling to even get shots off. They totaled two in the first 30 minutes, both saved by Hugo Franceschi.
• Late in the half, Bridgeport took advantage. A pass from Lucas Sousa split Max Kissel between two defenders and set him up one-on-one with Fabio Krissler. Kissel struck low and to his right, beating Krissler from 12 yards out for the 1-0 lead.
• GCU had a couple of chances following the goal with four shots and two corner kicks, but couldn't get any points on the board.
• Georgian Court carried that late first half momentum into the second and were decisively the better team over the final 45 minutes.
• As the period wore on though, it looked as though being the better team might not result in any goals.
• With 15 minutes left to play the Lions still hadn't found the equalizer. Bridgeport broke out looking for a two-goal lead, but Fabio Krissler came up with his best save of the day, stonewalling Lapo Romieri to keep the Lions in it.
• Even though there was still more than 10 minutes remaining, Bridgeport had started to stall and the referee's stopped the clock several times because of it. That hurt the Purple Knights later in the game. 
• In the 81st minute, the Lions earned a corner kick. Madersbacher serve was on the edge of the 6-yard box and out a little bit. Bridgeport's Hugo Franceschi tried to cheat forward and got caught in nomansland as Gijs Van Eif's header sailed past him and into the net.
• With the clock winding down it looked like the game was headed towards a draw. GCU got another corner kick opportunity though with about 80 seconds to play.
• Nothing came directly from the corner but Bridgeport struggled to clear the zone. A couple of mis hits on clearance attempts put the ball at the feet of Maurice Engl at the top of the box. Engl calmly pushed it forward and the slow roller rolled past several defenders and into the net with just 23 seconds left to play.
• The Lions were able to run down the final 23 seconds and escaped with a most improbable win. 

Lion Stat Leaders
• Maurice Engl was the hero with the game winning goal on two shots.
• Gijs Van Eif scored a header off a corner kick.
• Mathias Madersbacher added an assist.
• Fabio Krissler made four saves in goal.

For the Purple Knights
• Max Kissel scored a goal on four shots.
• Lucas Sousa picked up an assist.
• Hugo Franceschi made three saves.

News and Notes
• For Engl, a junior, it's not only his first goal of the season, but the first of his career.
• Engl's goal was the latest game-winner in regulation in program history, narrowly edging out Arturo Sanchez who scored with 46 seconds left in 2017 against Concordia.
• The Lions remain unbeaten against Bridgeport all-time at 2-0-1.
• Mathias Madersbacher moved to third all-time at GCU in career assists.
• Sebastian Derflinger played in his 30th game and surpassed 2500 career minutes. 
• Ibrahim Madad returned to the lineup and surpassed 1000 career minutes played. 

Up Next
• Georgian Court controls their own playoff destiny heading into the final regular season game. They play against Chestnut Hill at home Wednesday, November 1 at 3:30 p.m.